World War II Honoree

James Louis 'J.L.' Poteet, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942 AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT SAN DIEGO NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER DURING THE WAR, AS A PHARMACIST'S MATE ABOARD LANDING SHIP, TANKS (LST). HIS SHIPS, LST-495, AND LST-74 WERE ASSIGNED TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) AND PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY IN JUNE, 1944, AND THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, 1944. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (2 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RATING OF PHARMACIST'S MATE SECOND CLASS AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN. CONTINUED IN U.S. NAVY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR, INCLUDING ABOARD THE DESTROYER USS ISHERWOOD (DD-520), UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN NOVEMBER, 1947.